Militants fighting against the government have attacked a school near the capital, Damascus, killing at least 29 students and their teacher, SANA reports.

The fatalities occurred on Tuesday after a mortar launched by militants hit Bteiha School in the Wafideen camp, located some 20 kilometers northeast of Damascus.

Three Syrian civilians were also killed and many others injured in terrorist mortar attacks in the western city of Homs.

According to Syria's official news agency SANA, government forces responded to the attacks and killed tens of militants in the region. Four Syrian troops were also killed in the clashes.

There are also reports of clashes between the Syrian army and foreign-backed militants in the Homs suburb of Quseir, scores of militants are reported to be killed in the region.

Government forces have also seized a car loaded with weapons and ammunitions on Homs-Damascus highway.

Syria has been experiencing unrest since March 2011. Many people, including large numbers of army and security personnel, have been killed in the turmoil.

The Syrian government says the chaos is being orchestrated from outside the country, and there are reports that a very large number of the militants operating in the country are foreign nationals.

Last week, Syrian newspaper Al Watan published the name of 142 foreign militants from 18 countries, who were killed while fighting against the government. Almost 50 of those named were Saudi nationals.

According to the paper, they were mostly extremists belonging to al-Qaeda or jointed the terrorist organization after arriving in Syria and that they entered the country via Turkey and Lebanon.

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The Pan-African News Wire is an international electronic press service designed to foster intelligent discussion on the affairs of African people throughout the continent and the world. The press agency was founded in January of 1998 and has published thousands of articles and dispatches in newspapers, magazines, journals, research reports, blogs and websites throughout the world.
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PANW editor Abayomi Azikiwe is often solicited by various newspaper, radio and television stations for comment and analysis on local, national and world affairs. He serves as a political analyst for Press TV and RT worldwide satellite television news networks as well as other international media in the areas of African and world affairs. He has appeared on numerous television and radio networks including Al Jazeera, CCTV, BBC, NPR, Radio Netherlands, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, South Africa Radio 786, Belgian Pirate Radio, TVC Nigeria and others.